U.S. patent number 4,569,553 [Application Number 06/665,599] was granted by the patent office on 1986-02-11 for sliding door track guiding mechanism.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Chrysler Corporation. Invention is credited to David L. Anderson, Charles W. Clayton, Adolph P. Speth.
United States Patent |
4,569,553 |
Speth , et al. |
February 11, 1986 |
Sliding door track guiding mechanism
Abstract
An upper track roller mechanism for a vehicle sliding door. The
upper track lies in a plane canted upward at an acute angle defined
by the door opening upper sill panel. A roller support guide link
is hinged on the door adjacent its upper forward corner for
vertical movement about a horizontally disposed longitudinally
extending axis. The guide link has an arm portion with a track
roller pivot pin adjacent its free end such that the axis of the
pin is substantially perpendicular to the arm. The roller is
operative with the track configuration to pivot the guide link to
an upwardly inclined door closed position wherein the link profile
is contoured to the vehicle door opening upper body sill trim
panel.
Inventors: |
Speth; Adolph P. (Orchard Lake,
MI), Anderson; David L. (Royal Oak, MI), Clayton; Charles
W. (Lake Orion, MI) |
Assignee: |
Chrysler Corporation (Highland
Park, MI)
|
Family
ID: |
24670759 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/665,599 |
Filed: |
October 29, 1984 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
296/155;
49/213 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60J
5/06 (20130101); E05D 15/1047 (20130101); E05D
15/063 (20130101); E05Y 2900/531 (20130101); E05D
2015/1049 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60J
5/06 (20060101); E05D 15/10 (20060101); E05D
15/06 (20060101); B60J 005/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;296/155
;49/213-215,225 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
|
|
1503901 |
|
Mar 1978 |
|
GB |
|
1036579 |
|
Aug 1983 |
|
SU |
|
Primary Examiner: Song; Robert R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Barthel; Edward P.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In a motor vehicle, an upper track roller mechanism for a
sliding door which is movable forwardly and rearwardly along a wall
of the vehicle to selectively close and open a generally
rectangular opening in said wall, said opening defined by forward
and rear vertical side edges joined by upper and lower horizontal
edges, said upper track roller mechanism comprising; an upper guide
track having a substantially inverted U-shaped cross-section, said
track including a main section, an intermediate curved section, and
a forward section, said track sections supported on an upper door
opening sill panel oriented in a longitudinally extending common
plane inclined upwardly from said opening upper edge at a
predetermined acute angle from the horizontal, said main section
extending along said opening upper edge with said intermediate
curved section adjacent said opening forward edge such that said
forward section extends obliquely from said curved section, a
support link hinged to said door adjacent its forward upper corner
for pivotal movement about a longitudinally extending horizontally
disposed hinge axis relative to said vehicle, said link having a
track roller adjacent its free end such that said roller is
received in said track for reciprocal travel therein, the
arrangement such that during travel of said roller in said track
main section said roller is oriented in a substantially horizontal
plane, and wherein upon said roller moving through said curved
section and into said forward section during closure of said door,
said link being pivoted upwardly about said hinge axis to an
inclined position wherein said link and said roller being oriented
in a plane substantially parallel with the inclined plane of said
sill panel in the door closed position.
2. The track roller mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein said
roller being rotatively supported on the free end of a shaft with
said shaft principal axis aligned substantially normal to said
link, a bushing member moulded from plastic material received on
said shaft, said bushing member formed with a pair of upper and
lower spaced follower tabs, said U-shaped track having a guide
flange coextensive therewith oriented in a plane substantially
parallel with said sill panel whereby said guide flange being
received between said tabs to vertically position said link
throughout its travel.
3. In a vehicle, an upper track roller guide mechanism for a
sliding door movable forwardly and rearwardly along a side wall of
the vehicle to selectively close and open a generally rectangular
opening in said wall, said opening defined by forward and rear
vertical side edges joined by upper and lower horizontal edges,
said upper track roller guide mechanism comprising; an upper guide
track having a substantially inverted U-shaped cross-section, said
track including a main section, an intermediate curved section, and
a forward section, said track sections oriented in a longitudinally
extending common plane inclined upwardly from said opening upper
edge at a predetermined acute angle from the horizontal, said main
section extending along said opening upper edge with said
intermediate curved section located adjacent said opening forward
edge, such that said forward section extends inwardly and forwardly
in an oblique manner from said curved section, a roller support
link having a dog-leg shape in profile defining an upwardly
extending shoulder portion and an inwardly extending arm portion,
said shoulder portion hinged to said door inner surface adjacent
its forward upper corner by a bracket for pivotal movement about a
longitudinally extending horizontally disposed hinge pin, said arm
portion integrally formed with an upwardly extending cylindrical
hub portion on its inner free end, said hub portion having an axial
bore fixedly receiving one end of a roller support shaft, said
shaft rotatably supporting said roller on its free end with the
shaft principal axis aligned substantially normal to said arm
portion, said shaft having an integrally formed collar located
intermediate its free ends which seats on the upper surface of said
hub portion, a cylindrical bushing member moulded from plastic
material having a central bore fixedly received on said shaft
intermediate said roller and said collar, said bushing member
formed with a pair of upper and lower spaced follower tabs
extending inwardly therefrom, said inverted U-shaped track
including a base wall and a pair of parallel inboard and outboard
side walls extending normally therefrom, said inboard side wall
terminating in an outwardly directed right angled guide flange
coextensive therewith, said tabs receiving said guide flange
therebetween with said roller received in said U-shaped track for
reciprocal travel therein, the arrangement such that during travel
of said roller in said main track section said roller is oriented
in a substantially horizontal manner, and wherein upon said roller
moving through said curved section and into said forward section
during closure of said door, said link being pivoted upwardly about
said hinge pin to an inclined position with said roller and said
hub arm portion oriented substantially parallel with the plane of
said track section in the door closed position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to sliding door installation for
a motor vehicle and more particularly to an upper track roller
mechanism for the door.
Track roller mechanisms for a vehicle sliding door having inwardly
curved roller guiding tracks are well known in the art. The U.S.
Pat. No. 4,152,872 issued May 8, 1979 to Tanizaki et al. discloses
a panel-type truck having a typical sliding door mechanism. When
the Tanizaki door is being moved from its open to its closed
position the tracks, which are inwardly-curved at their forward
ends, bring the front edge of the door into closed engagement with
the vehicle body. A pivotally mounted bracket allows the rear end
of the door to be swung inwardly to latch the door in a position
flush with the vehicle side. Tanizaki also discloses an upper track
mechanism with a horizontally disposed guide roller slidable in a
U-section track.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an upper track roller sliding
mechanism for a vehicle sliding door wherein the leading upper edge
of the door is guided by a roller mounted on a vertically pivoting
support link. The upper guide track base wall is mounted flush with
an overhead sill panel on the vehicle body. The sill panel extends
at an upwardly sloped angle from the door opening upper edge. The
guide track has a longitudinally extending main section, an
intermediate curved section and a forward oblique section. The main
track section is substantially coextensive with the door opening
upper edge with the terminal oblique section extending upwardly and
forwardly from the curved section. The roller support link is
hinged to a bracket connected adjacent the upper leading edge of
the door for pivotal movement about a longitudinally extending
horizontally disposed hinge pin axis. The support link has an arm
portion supporting a track roller with its axis of rotation aligned
substantially perpendicular to the arm portion. By virture of this
arrangement the arm portion travels in a substantially horizontal
plane as the roller moves along the main track section. Upon the
roller traveling through the track curved section and into the
track oblique section during closure of the door, the support link
pivots upwardly about its horizontal hinge pin axis. With the door
closed the arm portion is oriented at an upwardly inclined position
substantially parallel with the sloped sill panel.
It is thus a feature of the present invention to provide an upper
track mechanism for a vehicle sliding door wherein the upper track
roller support link is pivoted upwardly as the door leading edge is
brought into flush engagement with the vehicle body providing a
compact support link profile contoured to the vehicle door opening
upper body sill trim panel.
It is another feature of the present invention to provide a
mechanism as set forth above with track roller pivot pin having a
bushing formed with plastic follower tabs which maintain the
pivoting support link in close horizontal tracking contact with a
track flange to ensure noise-free easy operation throughout travel
of the door while eliminating binding engagement between the
parts.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be
more readily apparent from the following detailed description,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which a
preferred embodiment is illustrated.
IN THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective interior view of a vehicle
sliding door in a closed operational position showing the upper
track sliding mechanism;
FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but with the vehicle sliding
door in an open operational position;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical elevational view of the door in
its closed position taken along line 3--3 in FIG. 1 and looking in
the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along section
line 4--4 in FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;
and
FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the roller and
its stem filler portion taken on section line 5--5 in FIG. 3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1 there is
shown a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of a vehicle body
10 showing the interior upper portion of a sliding side door 12.
The door 12 is received in a rectangular opening 14 formed in the
vehicle side wall or panel 16. The door 12 is constructed to
slidably move from the FIG. 1 closed position flush with the body
side wall 16 to the FIG. 2 open position. As indicated in dashed
lines in FIG. 2 the open door leading edge 17 is located adjacent
the opening rear edge.
The door 12 slides by rollers suitably mounted thereon at upper and
a lower positions in corresponding tracks on the body of the
vehicle. In FIGS. 1-4 of the disclosure only an upper track member
18 is shown which is suitably secured above the door opening upper
edge 19. It is understood that applicants' novel upper track
sliding mechanism, generally indicated at 20, could be used with
various sliding door track arrangements without departing from the
invention. An example of one such track arrangement is shown in
U.S. Pat. No. 3,100,667 issued Aug. 13, 1963 to S. Schwenk, the
disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
The upper track guiding mechanism 20 comprises an angle bracket 22
having an angled flange 23 suitably secured to the sliding door 12
adjacent to its upper leading edge corner such as by bolts 24. The
bracket 22 has an inwardly extending horizontal flange 26 which
supports a single-leaf hinge plate 28 on its upper surface by means
of bolts such as shown at 30. The plate 28 has a pair of spaced
ears 29 hinged to a central hinged ear of a roller support link 32
by means of a pin 34 aligned on a longitudinally extending
horizontally disposed axis.
The support link 32 is a die cast member having a generally dog-leg
shape when viewed in profile. The link comprises an upwardly and
inwardly inclined shoulder portion 36 and an inwardly extending arm
portion 38. The arm portion 38 has a track roller 40 mounted on its
free end and is adapted to be received in and rotatable on the
upper track member 18. The roller 40 is freely rotatable about the
axis of a shaft or pin to be described.
As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 the track member 18 includes a
longitudinally extending main linear section 42, an intermediate
curved section 44, and a forwardly and inwardly extending oblique
section 46. The track member 18 is shown in FIG. 3 having a
generally U-shaped cross-section including a base wall 48 and a
pair of parallel side walls 50 and 52 extending normally therefrom.
The outboard side wall 50 terminates in an outwardly directed
horizontally disposed flange 54 oriented at an acute angle of about
65 degrees from its side wall 50. The inboard side wall 52
terminates in an outwardly directed guide flange 56 oriented at a
right angle to its side wall 52.
FIG. 3 shows the track member 18 having its base wall 48 suitably
secured as by threaded fasteners (not shown) to door opening upper
sill panel 58. The sill panel 58 is oriented at an acute angle of
about 30 degrees from the horizontal. It will be noted in FIGS. 2
and 4 that with the door 12 slid rearwardly to its open dashed-line
17 position the arm portion 38 is oriented in a substantially
horizontal plane. In the FIG. 4 door open position the roller 40 is
disposed horizontally by means of a pivot shaft member 60 having
its principal axis extending upwardly at substantially ninety
degrees or normal to the arm portion.
The support link 32 inner free end terminates in a cylindrical hub
portion 62 preferably cast integral with the arm portion 38. The
roller 40 is rotatably mounted on the shaft member 60 upper end.
The shaft has an integrally formed annular collar 64 intermediate
its ends which collar seats on the upper surface of said hub
portion. The shaft member lower end has a splined or knurled
surface for a press-fit insertion in hub axial blind bore 66
preventing rotation of the shaft relative to the arm portion. As
seen in FIG. 5, a cylindrical follower bushing member 68, moulded
from a suitable plastic material, has a central bore 70 insertable
over the shaft member 60 and fixably molded thereto as a
subassembly.
The bushing member 68 has a pair of spaced upper and lower integral
plastic follower tabs, 72 and 74 respectively, extending inwardly
therefrom. The upper tab 72 is spaced from the underside of the
roller 40 and lies in a plane normal to the axis of the shaft
member 60. The lower tab 74 is inclined upwardly at an acute angle
of about 75 degrees with respect to the axis of shaft 60. As seen
in FIG. 4, the lower tab 74 is oriented substantially parallel to
the guide flange 56 during travel of the roller along the main
section 42 of the track.
With reference to FIG. 3 upon the roller 40 passing through the
curved track section 44 and entering the oblique track section 46
the support link 32 is pivoted upwardly about the axis of the hinge
pin 34. With the door 12 moved to its fully closed forward position
of FIG. 3 it is drawn inwardly to its latched position flush with
the vehicle body right side wall 16. In this closed mode the
support link arm portion 38 is upwardly inclined so as to be
oriented substantially parallel with the plane of the sill member
58.
It will be noted in FIG. 3 that in the door closed position, the
upper follower bushing upper tab 72 is oriented substantially
parallel to the upper surface of the guide flange 56. In the FIG. 4
door open position, the lower tab 74 is oriented substantially
parallel to the lower surface of the guide flange 56. The
arrangement of the follower tabs 72 and 74 allows them to remain
juxtaposed to the flange 56 without binding contact as the roller
40 changes orientation from a substantially horizontal open
position to its closed inclined position.
Further, a raised boss 76, 78 is preferably moulded on the inner
surface of each of the tabs 72 and 74, respectively, ensuring close
running contact with their associated guide flange surface during
travel of the door. The plastic tabs 72 and 74 closely track the
guide flange 56 to maintain vertical control of the roller 40
relative to the track wall 50 in a noise free manner. Thus,
throughout the travel of the door, the roller 40 is maintained in
positive load bearing contact with the track side wall 50 as the
roller moves from its generally horizontal orientation of FIG. 4 to
its inclined orientation of FIG. 3. Additionally, binding
engagement between the parts is eliminated.
The invention results in a smooth, quiet sliding door upper track
roller mechanism which provides a conforming profile with the body
interior upon closure of the door. It will be seen in FIG. 3 that
applicants' hinged roller supporting link 32 profile substantially
conforms with the contour of body interior wall and sill trim
panels indicated in dashed lines at 80 and 82, respectively.
The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
* * * * *